(a) The Secretary of State is authorized to adopt rules for the government of the department; to appoint a director and to provide for the selection or appointment of such other officials or employees as may be authorized; to provide for the publication, under the supervision of the director of historical material pertaining to the state; to control and expend such appropriations as may be made for the maintenance of the Department of Archives and History; and to do such other acts and things as may be necessary to carry out the true intent and purpose of this article.

(b) The Secretary of State is authorized to designate and establish, as a branch depository of the Department of Archives and History, facilities occupied by any nonprofit historical association organized for the purpose of collecting, preserving, and diffusing information relating to the history of Georgia, which association has been in continuous existence for a period of at least 100 years; provided, however, that no such designation and establishment of a branch depository shall be made unless the Secretary of State shall obtain the prior written approval of the historical association involved and unless the funds are made available to the Secretary of State for the specific purpose of supporting such branch depository. The Secretary of State may expend such funds as are necessary or desirable for the maintenance and operation of any such facilities and for the preservation and safeguarding of the contents thereof and for the employment of such persons as are necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of same. The Secretary of State may enter into such contractual arrangements as he deems to be in the public interest for acquiring the title to or loan of any historical records for use in such branch depository or any other depository of the Department of Archives and History. Such branch depository shall be under the immediate management and control of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may abolish such branch depository at any time.